The Guadalajara Reporter

Recent lessons on calmness & well being from Olympic contestants have some surprising roots as they fight performance destroying attacks of jitters

Triumphs, challenges, harsh disappointment, astonishing skills still float in the minds of millions. As are strange tales proving that Sochi, Russia, is what many people have said it is – a weird, troubled dictatorial piece of the Cold War.

In the media here, this is coupled with “officially conceded” apparent drug cartel-related killings, beheadings, etc. seemed on the uptick here.  As a consequence of both of these “items,” uncommon attention has been paid to the strength of human character to meet both exceptionally tough challenges and the vicissitudes of daily life.  (Note: On the heels of all this came the “astonishing” capture on February 22, of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, king of world drug lords.  Most seasoned observers say that will not stop of Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel from continuing to operate.) 

The Olympics presented thousands of younger people displaying amazing commitment and the investment of years of resolute training.  It also was an awesome demonstration of what Hemingway called  “grace under pressure.”   Yet the temptation to indulge in slack discipline is apparent as people try to write about the characteristics required in tackling the challenges and vicissitudes of the Olympics, which also color familiar quotidian demands.  No self-discipline, no competence, no success. That was apparent in the Olympics.

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